Alignment and installation tool for threaded male members

ABSTRACT

A support and alignment tool for installing a threaded elbow into a threaded opening whose axis extends at right angles to the line of sight of the installer, and access to which opening can only be had from a direction that is at right angles to the axis of the threaded opening.

United States Patent [1-91 Ramge Jan. 8, 1974 ALIGNMENT AND INSTALLATION TOOL FOR THREADED MALE MEMBERS Ronald T. Ramge, 2275 N. Cable Rd., Apt. No, 5, Lima, Ohio 45807 Filed: May 3, 1972 Appl. No.: 250,059

Inventor:

US. Cl. 81/119 Int. Cl B251) 13/48 Field of Search 81/119, 90 R, 90 B, 81/90 D, 121 R, 121 A, 125, 74, 76,13; 287/5203, 52.08; 85/1 SS References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1969 Smeets 287/5208 3,603,181 9/1971 Shultz ..'8l/90 C Primary Examiner-James L. Jones, Jr. Assistant Examiner-James G. Smith- Att0rneyWilliam P. Hickey [57] ABSTRACT A support and alignment tool for installing a threaded elbow into a threaded opening whose axis extends at right angles to the line of sight of the installer, and access to which opening can only be had from a direction that is at right angles to the axis of the threaded opening. v

i 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEB JAN 8 i574 /4 Fig 2.

ALIGNMENT AND INSTALLATION TOOL FOR THREADED MALE MEMBERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION cated at generally right angles to the threaded opening.

One of the difficulties that is encountered in installing a threaded male member into an opening, access towhich can only be had from one side thereof, is that it is difficult or impossible to ascertain when the threaded male member is in precise alignment with the threaded opening. Another difficulty that is encountered is that it is difficult to support the threaded male member by the thumb and forefinger in approximate alignment, and at thesame time rotate the threaded male member. Thisis particularly so where the threaded male member is not symmetrical. One type of threaded opening in machinery which sometimes opens into confined areas to which access can only be had from one side thereof, are threaded openings for greasing the machinery. Automotive vehicles are one type of machinery in which such openings are sometimes located;

An object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved installation and alignment tool for installing threaded male members into threaded openings having limited access thereto from an area at right angles to the end of the threaded opening.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved installation and alignment tool of the above described type for installing threaded elbows in the ends of threaded openings, access to which is limited to a confined area located at right angles to the end of a threaded opening.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved means for rotating threaded pipe fittings into the ends of openings of the above described type.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of a preferred embodiment described with reference to the drawing forming a part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the upper suspension arm, spring, and spring well for the front wheel of an automotive vehicle showing the manner in which the. hinge pin for the suspension arm is confined by the spring well housing;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, bottom view looking upwardly into the spring well from a position taken approximately on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4'. is an end view of the support and alignment tool shown in FIG. 3, with the threaded end of an elbow fitting projecting outwardly therefrom;

FIG. 5 is a side edge view of the tool and fitting shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Whilethe invention may be otherwise embodied, it

is herein shown and described as embodied in a tool for supporting and aligning an elbow having a male threaded end in the end of the threaded grease passageway in the hinge pin of the upper arm of the front suspension of an automotive vehicle.

,As best seen in FIGS. J1 and 2, the inner end of a generally channel shape upper suspension arm 10 is positioned over a pivotal support shaft or hinge pin 12 that is bolted to the frame of the vehicle by a pair of fasteners 14. The downwardly depending flanges 16 of the support arm overlies the respective ends of the pivotal support shaft 12, and a pair of hexagonal headed bushings 18 project through openings in the flanges l6 and are threaded onto the ends of the pivotal shaft 12 to support the shaft for pivotal movement about the body of the bushings 18. The bottom end of a coil spring 20 is positioned against the top of the suspension arm 10, and the upper end of the coil spring 20 is received in a spring well 22 that is formed by a sheet metal structure 24 which surrounds three sides and top of the hinged portion of the arm 10, including the bushings 18. Still other structure not shown extends downwardly from the spring well 22 past the inner end of the arm so that access to the bushings 18 can only be had from an area adjacent the outer end of the arm 10. The sheet metal structure 24 is part of the wheel well housing in which the front wheel of the vehicle to which the suspension arm is connected is located. The suspension arm 10 swings up and down about the bushings 18 to accommodate irregularities in the road surface over which the vehicle passes, and the bushings 18 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are provided with an axially extending passageway 26 the outer end of which is threaded, for receiving and storing grease for lubricating the bearing between the bushings 118 and arm 10.

In one make of vehicle, the grease passageway 26 is filled with grease at the time the vehicle is made, and

a threaded plug 28 is installed before the complete assembly of the vehicle. After a period of time the grease that is initially supplied to the passageway 26 is depleted, and it becomes necessary to refill the passageway 26 with grease. At this time, of course, the plug 28 is located within the spring well 22 so that access to the end of the passageway 26 can only be had from the area of the wheel well that is adjacent the outer end of the upper suspension arm. Access to the grease passageway 26 therefore can only be had through an area that is only slightly wider than the thumb and index finger of a mechanics hand, and which extends at right angles to the end of the bushing 18. The plug 28 can be removed by inserting an open end wrench through this narrow access area, rotating the wrench and plug through approximately 45 and reinstalling the wrench in a different angular position on the plug. After the FIG. 3 of the drawing shows an elbow 30 having a threaded male connection being installed in the passageway 26 by means of an installation tool 32 embodying principles of the present invention. The installation tool 32 generally comprises a disc having flat opposing major surfaces 34 and 36, and a circular side edge 38. The disc has a slot 40 therein having opposite side surfaces 42 and 44. The front face 46 of the fitting which contains the side outlet is abutted by side surface 42 and the opposite face 48 of the fitting is abutted by the side surface 44. It will be understood that where the faces 46 and 48 of the elbow 30 are not flat, the side surfaces 42 and 44 of the slot 40 which abut the elbow 30, will be correspondingly shaped to retain the elbow. The surfaces 42 and 44 therefore can be considered as surfaces of jaws which can be slid over the front and rear side surfaces of the elbow to retain the same.

The front face 46 of the elbow has a drilled and tapped passageway 50 therein which intersects a drilled passageway 52 in the threaded male side outlet portion 54 of the elbow. The bottom of the drilled and tapped passageway 50 is automatically tapered by the end of the drill by which it is made. The side surfaces 42 and 44 of the jaws of the tool 32 are adapted to receive the elbow 30 at a location centered with respect to the circular side edge 38 of the tool. A threaded opening 56 communicates the side edge 38 of the tool with the jaw surface 42 at a location centered over the drilled and tapped passageway 50 of the centered elbow. The threaded opening 56 is of smaller diameter than the passageway 50 and contains a long set screw 58 having a tapered end 60. When the set screw 58 is tightened into position, its inner end extends through the side outlet passageway 50 without engaging the pipe threads therein and bears against its tapered inner end to grip and automatically center the elbow with respect to the tool 32. Once the elbow is centered by the set screw 58, the threaded male side outlet bushing 54 will be exactly perpendicular to the flat major surfaces 34 and 36 of the tool 32. While it is not essential in all instances, the circular side edge 38 of the tool is preferably knurled or otherwise roughened to provide a gripping surface for transmitting torque to the elbow 30.

The tool 32 having the elbow 30 installed therein is shown in FIGS. 4 through 6 and is shown installed into male side outlet portion 54 of the elbow 30 enters the 1 end of the passageway 26. It is a characteristic of threaded male parts that the end thereof will be slightly tapered, and it is a characteristic of threaded female openings that they will be of a diameter generally corresponding to the major thread diameter. The male side outlet portion 54 when slid over the end surface of the bushing 18 will move slightly inwardly therefore and this movement can be sensed by the installer.

As previously mentioned, the installation of fittings without the tool of the present invention is made extremely difficult by the inability to align the fitting in the opening, and cross threading frequently results. Instillation without the tool is also made difficult by the inability to turn the fitting with the fingers. When the tool 32 of the present invention is used and the male end 54 of the elbow is felt to enter the end of the passageway 26, the installer can accurately align the fitting by sighting along the surface 36 of the tool and manipulating the tool 32 until its surface 36 is parallel with the end of the bushing 18. When parallelism between these two surfaces occurs, the installer is assured that the threaded male side outlet 54 is accurately aligned with the passageway 26 and that cross threading will not occur. After this parallelism is accomplished, the circular.

side edge 38 of the tool can be rolled between the thumb and index finger without changing alignment and thereby start the threads of the fitting in the female threads of the bushing 18. The installer can then relocate his fingers on the tool 32 and rotate the tool until the set screw 58 faces outwardly of the spring well 22. An allen wrench is then inserted into the set screw, the set screw is loosened, and the tool is removed from the elbow fitting 30. An open end wrench can then be slid over the square body surfaces of the elbow 30 to rotate the elbow until it is tightened into the threads of the passageway 26 with the side outlet passageway 50 of the elbow facing outwardly of the spring well 22. A

I pipe nipple having a grease fitting thereon is then tightened into the side outlet passageway 50 and the installation is completeready to receive a grease gun.

Although the invention has been described as embodied in a tool for receiving and aligning a threaded elbow type pipe fitting, it is not intended to be so limited. It will be apparent that the principles are equally applicable for receiving a threaded pipe tee, cross and- /or other threaded fitting, and that it can also be used to secure and install threaded fasteners, as for example,

machine screws, etc. in threaded openings.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail, I do not wish to be limited to the particular embodiments shown and described, and it is my invention to cover hereby all novel adaptations, modifications and arrangements thereof which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

I claim:

1. An alignment and starting tool for male threaded members having opposing abutment surfaces, said tool comprising: a plate member having a generally flat major end surface with a generally rectangular slot therein, said slot having first and second opposing flat side surfaces adapted to engage the opposing abutment surfaces of one of said male threaded members, a threaded opening in said plate member extending perpendicularly from said first opposing side surface of said slot to the external surface of said plate member, and an elongated threaded member in said threaded opening, said threaded member having an inner end adapted to project across said slot into engagement with said second opposing side surface of said slot while the remainder of said threaded member is in threaded engagement with the sidewalls of said threaded openmg.

2. The alignment and starting tool of claim 1 wherein said slot extends between opposite major surfaces of said plate member.

3. An alignment and starting tool for male threaded members having opposing abutment surfaces and a blind side outlet opening in one of said opposing abutment surfaces, said tool comprising: a plate member having a generally flat major end surface with an imaginary centerline perpendicular to said major end surface and a generally rectangular slot therein, said slot having first and second opposing flat side surfaces generally centered with respect to said centerline and adapted to engage the opposing abutment surfaces of one of said male threaded members, a threaded opening in said plate member extending perpendicularly from said first opposing side surface of said slot to the external surface of said plate member, an elongated threaded member in said threaded opening, said threaded member having an inner end adapted to project into the blind side outlet opening of a male threaded member positioned in said slot and across said centerline while the outer end of said threaded member is in threaded engagement with the sidewalls of said threaded opening to clamp the male threaded member against said second opposing side surface of said slot.

4. The alignment and starting tool of claim 3 wherein said plate member is circularly shaped, and said slot receives the elbow generally centered in said plate member.

5. An alignment and starting tool for holding an elbow having a threaded projecting male end and an internally threaded side outlet opening at right angles to said male end and which opening has a tapered inner' end, said tool comprising: a plate having generally parallel major end surfaces and a generally rectangularly shaped slot extending from the side surface of said plate a distance greater than one half of the width of said plate to receive said elbow generally centered in said plate with the male end of the elbow at generally right angles to said major surfaces, said slot having one side surface with an elbow abutment portion thereof adapted to abut the side of the elbow opposite its side outlet opening, said plate having a threaded opening extending from the outside surface of said plate to said slot opposite from and perpendicular to said elbow abutment portion of said one side surface, and a set screw in said threaded opening, said set screw having an inner end portion adapted to bear against said elbow abutment portion while the outer end of said set screw is in threaded engagement with the sidewalls of said threaded opening to permit the inner end of said set screw to enter the side outlet of the elbow when centered over said elbow abutment portion of said slot and bear against said tapered inner end of said side outlet opening. to automatically center the elbow and lock the 

1. An alignment and starting tool for male threaded members having opposing abutment surfaces, said tool comprising: a plate member having a generally flat major end surface with a generally rectangular slot therein, said slot having first and second opposing flat side surfaces adapted to engage the opposing abutment surfaces of one of said male threaded members, a threaded opening in said plate member extending perpendicularly from said first opposing side surface of said slot to the external surface of said plate member, and an elongated threaded member in said threaded opening, said threaded member having an inner end adapted to project across said slot into engagement with said second opposing side surface of said slot while the remainder of said threaded member is in threaded engagement with the sidewalls of said threaded opening.
 2. The alignment and starting tool of claim 1 wherein said slot extends between opposite major surfaces of said plate member.
 3. An alignment and starting tool for male threaded members having opposing abutment surfaces and a blind side outlet opening in one of said opposing abutment surfaces, said tool comprising: a plate member having a generally flat major end surface with an imaginary centerline perpendicular to said major end surface and a generally rectangular slot therein, said slot having first and second opposing flat side surfaces generally centered with respect to said centerline and adapted to engage the opposing abutment surfaces of one of said male threaded members, a threaded opening in said plate member extending perpendicularly from said first opposing side surface of said slot to the external surface of said plate member, an elongated threaded member in said threaded opening, said threaded member having an inner end adapted to project into the blind side outlet opening of a male threaded member positioned in said slot and across said centerline while the outer end of said threaded member is in threaded engagement with the sidewalls of said threaded opening to clamp the male threaded member against said second opposing side surface of said slot.
 4. The alignment and starting tool of claim 3 wherein said plate member is circularly shaped, and said slot receives the elbow generally centered in said plate member.
 5. An alignment and starting tool for holding an elbow having a threaded projecting male end and an internally threaded side outlet opening at right angles to said male end and which opening has a tapered inner end, said tool comprising: a plate having generally parallel major end surfaces and a generally rectangularly shaped slot extending from the side surface of said plate a distance greater than one half of the width of said plate to receive said elbow generally centered in said plate with the male end of the elbow at generally right angles to said major surfaces, said slot having one side surface with an elbow abutment portion thereof adapted to abut the side of the elbow opposite its side outlet opening, said plate having a threaded opening extending from the outside surface of said plate to said slot opposite from and perpendicular to said elbow abutment portion of said one side surface, and a set screw in said threaded opening, said set screw having an inner end portion adapted to bear against said elbow abutment portion while the outer end of said set screw is in threaded engagement with the sidewalls of said threaded opening to permit the inner end of said set screw to enter the side outlet of the elbow when centered over said elbow abutment portion of said slot and bear against said tapered inner end of said side outlet opening to automatically center the elbow and lock the elbow in place. 